Cotton-press



(No Model'.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. MILLER.

COTTON PRESS.

No. 367,310. Patented July 26, 1887.

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LEWIS MILLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,310, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed February 5, 1887. Serial No. 226,674.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, LEWIS MILLER,a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Presses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic bailing-presses, the novel features 7 myinvention I herein disclaim certainpartsto wit, those parts relating to the manner of attaching the platen and the head to the endless bands. I also herein disclaim a vertical compressing platen or follower combined with a fixed head, all of which I have before explained and claimed, and'especially in my case having for its serial number 226,673, and bearing even date with the filing of this-application.

Referring to the annexed drawings by letter, A designates a base composed of masonry solidly established, andprovided, if desirable, with a seat or cavity, A The superstructure A is composed of inverted arched bearers of cast metal properly anchored to the masonry and suitably tied by horizontal tie-bolts to resist great strain. This frame A has rigidly secured to it a crosshead or platen, B, the

lower face of whichmay be serrated, as indicated in Fig. 1. It will be observed that upon this platen B, I suitably secure one or more vertical cylinders, D, the bases of which are preferably flanged to receive bolts which tie thesecylinders to their horizontal cross-head.

(No model.)

The upper ends of the cylinders D are open, and these cylinders are bored out truly, all of the axes of which are perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the surface of the said rigidly-fixed platen B. In each one of the said cylinders is a piston, G, which I prefer to make hollow for lightness, and each piston is suitably packed to prevent escape of the fluid used to actuate the press. This mode of packing the pistons in their respective cylinders, together with the collars G, used between their upper ends and the head J, has been fully described and illustrated in my application above referred to,and need not herein be further particularizcd.

E designates a pipe leading from a head or other source of power and communicating to the corresponding surface of the upper may be composed of cable steel wire strands bunched together, or for my present,purpose this band may be made flexible, or it maybe made in any other suitable manner, whereby the cap or cross-head J and the follower or platen J are caused to be moved simultaneously by an upward pressure against the pistons in the cylinders D.

The pipe IE, it will be observed, communicates by suitable couplings or fixings with the several cylinders D, as shown.

From what has been said it will be seen that when water or other fluid under great pressure is admitted through the common pipe, E, to the several cylinders D of the press the pistons G will be simultaneously forced upward, acting directly on the head J. This head,being connected by the bands K with the platen or follower,will forcibly raise it toward the cross-head B and vertically compress and compact any loose material put between the two surfaces thereof.

In practice I have found that in the baling of cotton and other like material the bales, if compressed vertically or in one direction only, will materially bulge out in an opposite direction. For the purpose of preventing this I Practically the horizontal cylinders L are scram have contrived the following device: The arched standards A are adapted in a suitable manner to rigidly sustain horizontal cylinders L,whose horizontal axes coincide. These cylinders are so fixed and located with respect to the bottom of the upper platen, B, that when the platen or follower J has completed its upward stroke, or when this follower has nearly approachedits upward point of repose and compressed the material vertically, the heads T T of pistons llI may be caused to condense and compact the material in a horizontal direction. In other words, it will be observed that I condense the material both vertically and horizontally. Now, this process may be conducted simultaneously; or, ifdesired, I may first compress the material in one direction, and when this compression ceases I may compress the material in an opposite direction, or

the process of compression in both directions.

may occur at the same time. The result of the two opposed forces on the bale is to produce a squarely and evenly condensed mass.

Referring again to Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings, it will be seen that the two horizontal cylinders L are in the same axial hori' zontal plane, which is in a plane at right angles to the vertical axes of the cylinders D. These cylinders L may be sustained against outward thrust or strain by shouldering them, as at t, in the ends of the upper platen, B.

made like the vertical cylinders D, and in them are the endwise-movable pistons M, above referred to, which are provided with one or more annular packings, n. (Shown clearly in the sectional part of Fig. 1.)

The piston M of each one of the cylinders L is connected by links H to a secondary piston, O, which is endwise movable and suitably packed in a cylinder, N, which may be provided with a cock, p, applied to a pipe leading to a head of water or other fluid. Each cylinder L may communicate at its rear end, by means of a pipe, y, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with one of the cylinders D, and each one of these pipes may be provided with a regulating or cut-off cock that may be adjusted, if required, so that it will operate synchronously with the movements of the pistons in the cylinders D.

To return the pistons M after each forward or forcing stroke, water or other fluid may be admitted into the cylinder or tube N through its pipe, thereby forcing outward the piston O, and carrying with it the piston M. This can only be done when there is an outlet be hind the said piston M, as is evident.

It will be observed that I combine in a single hydraulic press a vertical compressing device, and also a lateral compressing device, the latter being adapted to be brought into action after or during the final vertical pressure is given to the bale; also, that I rigidly sustain the horizontal hydraulic presses against endwise strain by means of the stationary rigid head B. Furthermore, it will be seen that the pressing-heads T and their movable cylinders are connected to hydraulic plungers and provided with hydraulic means for retracting them. Finally, it will be observed that the cylinders L are in direct communication with the main head or source of power regulated by valves.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the verticallymovable platen J", the vertically-movable head J,theirlink-connections, the stationary platen B, and the cylinders I), having pistons G, of the cylinders Laud their pistons horizontally arranged and secured to the platen B, and the pipes 3 for establishing communication be tween cylinders Land D, provided with regulating-cocks, all substantially as described.

2. The combination of the vertically-movable platen, the vertically-movable head, and their link-connections with the intermediate stationary platen, B, and horizontal rams sccured by bolts and shoulders to extensions of the said stationary platen, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses;

LEWIS MILLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. D. DAVIS, W. D. ALEXANDER. 

